Living the Good Life? : An Analysis of Ecuador's Plan Nacional Para el Buen Vivir Development Model as an Alternative to a Neoliberal Global Framework

Abstract

In recent years, international relations scholars have focused considerable attention on the position of Latin America within the modern global political economy. A number of Latin American countries have attempted to implement alternative development models to the prevailing neoliberal approach. One such country is the Republic of Ecuador, which has established a development plan called buen vivir. This approach is unique because it is grounded in indigenous concepts arising from the Kichwa term sumak kawsay. This thesis draws upon data collected from government documents and public interviews to examine how Ecuador's new model challenges neoliberalism in three specific areas: development, environment and culture. The results of this investigation show that in each case there are genuine moves away from neoliberalism, but that ambiguities still exist because Ecuador must still function within a neoliberal framework. Overall, Ecuador's version of post-neoliberalism can be considered a movement beyond traditional neoliberal economics, and its indigenous concepts can provide important context for analyzing alternative development trends. Understanding better how Ecuador's buen vivir functions as an alternative to the status-quo global political economy can help advance future research regarding post-neoliberal alternative development models in Latin America.